Health Recovery in Scotland
 

After a lengthy illness, my doctor has prescribed a month of complete rest. I would like to spend it in Scotland in October-November, in quiet, comfortable and hospitable surroundings where I could walk about to my heart's content. I might consider an occasional day excursion by rail. I will be travelling alone, and although I will require a fair amount of quiet time to just read and relax by the hearth with a wee dram, I would also enjoy meeting other travellers as well the locals. NO shopping or touristy things. I want to settle in. Therefore, good food is a must. Suggestions would be gratefully received.

Yankee...I just checked on the status of a place we loved a few years back...seems like they've added cottages (we stayed in the main house b and b)...delightful area just a few miles from the small, welcoming town of Drumnadrcohit, near Urquhart Castle and Lake Ness (and Nessie, the monster!) It's not too far from Inverness, too. Excellent gastropub in town, too. Might be a good place for your required rest in my estimation. Wife agrees.

We were there in fall also, and the weather was nippy but very comfotable. Welcome to Borlum Farms.

Stu (I have some scanned pix if you wish)

http://www.borlum.co.uk/About-Borlum-Farm.html

tower: Lovely place--but it is a bit remote from places to eat, etc and is not reachable by train. Reading the OP it seems yankeecdn wants a place where a car isn't required.

yankeecdn: Am I right??

if so, you could think about Edinburgh, or perhaps Oban or Inverness (and I almost <i>never</i> recommend Inverness :) )

Other towns w/ good rail connections would include Aberdeen, Stirling, and some others.

But one place I'd especially consider -- St Andrews. It does not have rail service - but trains go to Leuchars and then it is a 6 mile bus ride from there. St Andrews has lots to recommend it plus there is easy bus service to the Fife fishing villages.

Another place w/ rail connections and LOTS of terrific scenery/walks/bus service would be North Berwick.

Do you want a B&B or do you plan on renting a cottage or flat? What is your budget?

Yes, you are right. NO car. Aside from the possibility of a brief rail excursion or two (or not), if I can't walk there, I won't be going! My doctor's prescription includes getting outdoors. Being comfortable and content in one spot is more important than any budget considerations. I love B&Bs, small inns, and enjoy being around other people. Thanks.

Can I suggest you look at:-

Kirkcudbright

Melrose

North Berwick

Drymen

Callender

Dunkeld

Ballater

Nairn

Port Charlotte/Bowmore

Gairloch

Tobermory

St Andrews

Pittenweem

Elie

These are all smallish to small towns with nice bars and a few good places to eat. All are reachable by public transport; some more easily than others; some have railways, others don't.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably got to Port Charlotte, but I have a well-known Islay fixation :)

I would have suggested Callander as well - nice town. great scenery, lovely walks, but no rail service. But you can get there by bus.

Same w/ some of the other places on Sheila's list.

I think I said that.

Funny we were talking about Callender just yesterday. We loved it there and did lots of touring. We did have a car but I would guess buses are available. Don't know your budget but we loved our time at Roman Camp.

I was going to suggest Oban too. You've the ferries over to Mull and Skye etc. and a good rail service. If you decide that a bus is OK and choose Callender, then have a look at the choice of B& B's in the area, some of which are particularly good.

http://www.incallander.co.uk/accombedandb.htm

I'd go to Iona - a very special place - especially if I was on my own. Quiet but a really sense of community, with things to join in with if you feel like it.

Thank you everyone. I have done some homework and narrowed my list to Callander, Oban and Ballater. Further advice as to these locations would be most helpful and, again, gratefully received. - yankeecdn

Curiously, I live near Callander, Ontario, Canada which is the other Callander's namesake!

I'm wondering which would have the better weather? I would assume Ballater but it's farther north. When does it start to snow in Scotland?

As they say in Britain, "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes!" By the way, I LOVE rain and storms - yankeecdn.

I spent a few days in Callander a couple of years ago. I'd recommend it (although I had a car, so I don't know the public transport situation). I stayed in the Craigard Cottage Apartment(self catering) operated by the Riverview Guest House, http://www.visitcallander.co.uk/

The apartment was very comfortable and a 2 minute walk from the local supermarket, so very handy for breakfast fixings, snacks, etc., or even cooking a meal if you didn't want to go out some evenings.

The Riverview B&B itself looked very nice, but couldn't stay there because it was pre-season and they were painting, etc.

So, ...Callander, Oban and Ballater

Well, tough call.

I LOVE the west coast, and it will be milder there, and Oban is on a train line- and there are boats to lots of lovely places for day trips, or even overnighters.

Oban is a bit dreich in the winter, but. It has a few good places to eat (Eeusk, Cuan Mor, the Waterfront- lots of fish)

If I were doing this, I'd be self catering and Oban has options. I did a bit of a hunt and came up with these:-

http://tinyurl.com/67arrex

There's other stuff on that website too, but most of it's collected here:-

http://tinyurl.com/6482cfc

and its home page list activities. Nice distillery to visit.

Whilst Oban has see- fab views over the Sound of Mull- Ballater has mountains and royalty. Will be crisp cold rather than damp cold. Good chance of snow in that period. It's inside the Cairngorms National Park. Accommodation listed here. Or look at eth Craigendarroch web site.

Great places to walk and be out of doors.

The Darroch Learg and the Green Inn would be good places to eat. There's a wide selection. Train to Aberdeen; Bus station in the same building for a link through

Callendar is (to my taste) a bit twee; but still..Maybe Ballater light?

I really like Callendar Meadows to eat in. You'll find a lot of accommodation options here

http://www.incallander.co.uk/accomselfcat.htm

No train past Stirling; bus from Stirling

I was trying to remember the name of a B&B that we stayed in a couple of years ago in Callander and finally did:

http://www.ballachallan.co.uk/

The food was excellent and the rooms were quirky and it was amazingly well priced.

Everyone has been so helpful. Maybe too helpful! As I now see it, a month is too much time in one place when there is obviously so much to see and enjoy. If I look at my health situation honestly, I doubt I will be returning to the U.K. in this lifetime. So, here is a revised question: How can I see a little more of Scotland in 30 days time during October and November in a very leisurely fashion? Remember, I have been ordered to rest and restore my health. I will NOT be able to drive a car. I enjoy walking, though NOT hiking! Should I be looking at joining a small tour group? Hiring a guide? Is there such a thing? -bless you all for your trouble.

I'd take a week or so at a time in 3 or 4 different towns. Some bigger like Oban and some smaller like Callander or much smaller like Dunkeld.

You could take the train to Oban. Then a week later the train to Stirling connecting to a bus to Callander. Then train from Stirling to Dunkeld. And finish up w/ a week in North Berwick.

But that is only one option of MANY.

You could pick any 4 or so towns. You might really enjoy one of the Fife fishing villages (Anstruther or Crail especially). No trains but reasonable bus service and they are really lovely places to stay.

Oban/Callander/Ballater/Crail would give a nice variety of scenery.

I would definitely consider Oban as it is busy enough with passing travellers and also it will be very easy top access the ferry network for short trips.

Many rural areas of Britain have strong local social networks which revolve around the WI or church. They would be well worth contacting or I am being presumptuous of age and sex.

Have a good look at the Scottish rail network. It has developed over time to a form which actively discourages effective, efficient travel. Many areas of the north require a change in Inverness which can be a nightmare. Are you excluded from coach travel?

Pick a travel hub- like Perth; and use it as a base. You could spend a few days there- a few days in Dingwall; a few days there; a few days in Stonehaven; a few days there etc.

If you pick a good B&B or small hotel to stay in, they'll probably let you set up semi permanent and you can take a change of clothes to make your wee treks.That time of year is not busy.